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The time has come. I need to take my Ukrop’s UVC card off my key chain. I can’t really explain why I’m so sad, but this hurts more than the Sopranos series ending. Richmond isn’t perfect, but we stood above everyone else when it came to our grocery stores.
We moved to Chesterfield when Ukrop’s was king, before Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and the like took hold in Virginia. Navigating the slightly different local grocery was a great conversation starter with our new neighbors and friends. Everyone had a special piece of advice regarding how to shop at Ukrop’s.
“Now, you know that you are not allowed to tip the baggers?”
“It might not sound very good, but you must try their breakfast pizza.”
“You need to remember where you’ve parked, because you don’t want to wander around the parking lot with the bag boy trailing behind you.”
“Try shopping on Saturday evening. Perishable items are marked down then, since they are closed on Sunday.”
Even if you didn’t shop at Ukrop’s, everyone understood the shopping protocol. Shopping carts didn’t belong outside. A country ham and cheese ball waited to be nibbled on at the deli counter. There was no wine, under any circumstances, and the duchess mashed potato casserole was always ready. You could bring back a lackluster cantaloupe without a receipt or humiliation.
Now, all the rules are changing. A few weeks ago, I was talking about the Martin’s transition with a Ukrop’s bagger. He seemed excited and explained that he was now going to receive a paid vacation and medical and dental benefits. With his hopefulness, I’ve tried to temper my Ukrop’s nostalgia with the knowledge that more employees will receive benefits.
So as I remove my UVC key tag, I make a vow. I will always ask for a bagger to take my groceries to my car. Baggers won’t be scheduled unless there is a demand, and the future for loading groceries appears to be murky. Press releases have stated that groceries will still be loaded into customers’ cars, upon request. I’ll do my part and try to support the bagger position. Employees cannot receive benefits if they are not scheduled to work. If baggers just bag and don’t carry out groceries, someone will be cut from the work schedule.
As I close, I offer my farewell. Farewell Ukrop’s. Farewell free cheese ball samples. And I hope I won’t need to bid a farewell to any of the great baggers who handle my groceries at Ukrop’s….um, I mean….Martin’s.
Becky Reil is a lover of art, architecture and good food. Traveling with her husband and friends is her favorite way to enjoy all of her interests. She ate her way through thirteen countries and has several trips planned for the near future. Local food is her passion, and she will reluctantly share her "secret" sources for sausage, beef, grits and produce. Becky is constantly working to enlarge her fabric stash and enjoys quilting and collecting textiles. A graduate of Radford University, she has worked as an Art Teacher and as a Job Coach for disabled persons.
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